Hydrangea plant named ‘Hortmamore’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘Hortmamore’ that is characterized by its exhibits mophead type inflorescences with sterile flower sepals that are bright red in color, its sturdy and thick textured sterile flower sepals, its good performance both as a cut flower and as a potted plant, and its floriferous blooming habit.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘Hortmamore’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant patent applicationsfiled for a plant derived from the same breeding program that isentitled Hydrangea Plant Named ‘Hortmalegretto’ (co-pending U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 15/731,893) and Hydrangea Plant Named‘Hortmagitri’ (co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.15/731,894).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Hortmamore’. ‘Hortmamore’ represents a new big leaf hydrangea, aperennial shrub grown for use as a landscape plant and for cut flowerproduction.

‘Hortmamore’ was derived from an ongoing controlled breeding programdirected by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea withflowers that are red in color with sturdy and thick textured sterilesepals combined with floriferous blooming habits. ‘Hortmamore’ arosefrom a controlled cross made by the Inventor in June of 2010 betweenunnamed and unpatented proprietary plants in the Inventor's breedingprogram; reference no. 08-007-02 as the female parent and Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Kolmaru’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,104) as the male parent.‘Hortmamore’ was selected as a single unique plant from amongst theresulting seedlings in August of 2014.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands in August of 2012.Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Hortmamore’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.

-   -   1. ‘Hortmamore’ exhibits mophead type inflorescences with        sterile flower sepals that are bright red in color.    -   2. ‘Hortmamore’ exhibits sturdy and thick textured sterile        flower sepals.    -   3. ‘Hortmamore’ exhibits good performance both as a cut flower        and as a potted plant.    -   4. ‘Hortmamore’ exhibits a floriferous blooming habit.

The female parent of ‘Hortmamore’ differs from ‘Hortmamore’ in havingsterile flower sepals that are dark pink in color and softer in texture.The male parent of ‘Hortmamore’ differs from ‘Hortmamore’ in havingsterile flower sepals that are darker red in color with a softertexture, and in having weaker flower stems. ‘Hortmamore’ can be mostclosely compared to the ‘Hortmalegretto’ and ‘Hortmagitri’. Thesecultivars are similar to ‘Hortmamore’ in having sterile flower sepalsthat are red in color and thick textured. ‘Hortmalegretto’ differs from‘Hortmamore’ in being less floriferous. ‘Hortmagitri’ differs from‘Hortmamore’ in being less floriferous and in having sterile sepals thatare darker red in color with even darker red markings, especially whenthe flowers are mature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a plant two years in age as grown in a 17-cm container in agreenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of‘Hortmamore’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Hortmamore’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view a leaf of‘Hortmamore’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants two years in age asgrown in 17-cm containers in a greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands.The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—From late summer to fall and showy for at            least to weeks in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub, mophead type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Broadly spreading to upright.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 46 cm in height and 41 cm            in spread as grown in a 17-cm container and about 1 m in            height and width as a 3 year-old plant in the landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to pests            and diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine, 199D in color.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Time required for root development.—An average of 3.5 weeks            for root initiation with a young rooted plant produced in an            average of six months.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem aspect.—Upright to an average angle of 60° to soil.        -   Stem color.—Immature stems; 143A, mature stems; 144A,            flushed with 143A at the internodes, older bark; N199B to            N200A.        -   Stem size.—An average of 23 cm (excluding the inflorescence)            in length and 6.5 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Immature and mature stems; glabrous and            sparsely lenticellate with lenticels; an average of 1.5 mm            in length, 0.5 mm in width, N186B in color.        -   Branching.—Freely branched with an average of 8 lateral            branches, branching improves with pinching.        -   Internode length.—An average of 5.9 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad ovate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf number.—An average of 10 (5 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate-dentate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 144B, lower            surface 145B.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 9 cm in length and 7.8 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surfaces; smooth and            moderately rugose.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves upper surface 139A, young lower            surface 138A, mature upper surface between NN137A and 147A,            mature lower surface between 138A and 147B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 1.1 cm in length and 3.5 mm in            diameter, strong, color; upper surface 144A, lower surface            143B, upper surface texture is smooth and slightly glossy,            lower surface texture is smooth and moderately glossy.        -   Inflorescence type.—Flattened globular, mophead type,            compound corymb of rotate-shaped sterile flowers over            fertile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Sterile flowers; an average of            6 weeks, persistent, fertile flowers; an average of one            week, self-cleaning.        -   Lastingness as a cut flower.—About 2 weeks in full color,            longer as a drying inflorescence.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 8.4 cm in height and 15.7            cm in diameter.        -   Flower number.—An average of 55 sterile flowers and 22            fertile flowers per inflorescence.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; upright, outwards, and            slightly drooping, fertile flowers; upright.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 4 cm in diameter            and 1.9 cm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 8 mm in            diameter and 4 mm in depth.        -   Flower shape.—Sterile flowers; rotate, cup-shaped, fertile            flowers; rotate, petals drop when mature.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 2.75 mm in            length, 3 mm in diameter, globular in shape, color; 147D,            top is flushed with 153D, fertile flowers; an average of 5            mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, obovate in shape, color;            150C, top flushed with 63C.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 7 cm in length and 7 mm in            diameter, held upright to outwards, 144A in color, smooth            surface, strong.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; an average of 1.8 cm in length            and 2 mm in diameter, held at an average angle of 40° to            peduncle, 63B in color, moderate strength, dull surface is            moderately covered with thin hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in            length and too small to measure color, fertile flowers; an            average of 3 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter, held at an            average angle of 15° to vertical, 63C in color, moderate            strength, dull surface.        -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate, ovate in            shape, concave, acute apex, cuneate base, entire margin, an            average of 4 mm in length and 3 mm in width, glabrous and            dull upper and lower surfaces, color when opening upper            surface N74C, color when opening lower surface 63B, color            when fully open upper surface N74C, color when fully open            lower surface 63B to 63C, fertile flowers; average of 4,            occasionally 5, rotate, ovate in shape, concave, acute apex,            cuneate base, entire margin, an average of 4 mm in length            and 2.75 mm in width, glabrous and dull upper and lower            surfaces, color when opening and fully open upper surface            N74C, color when opening and fully open lower surface 64D.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; an average of 4, occasionally 3,            rotate with pairs alternate in arrangement, broadly reniform            to rhomboidal to broadly ovate in shape, apex is obtuse to            emarginate, truncate base, margin irregularly dentate, an            average of 2.6 cm in length and 3.7 cm in width, color;            upper surface when opening 60A to 60B, fading to N57B at the            base, lower surface when opening 63C, fading to 63B at the            top, upper surface when fully open 59A, lower surface when            fully open between 59D and 63B, upper surface fading to 59A,            strongly flushed with N186A, lower surface fading to 147B,            strongly flushed with 197A to 197B, both surfaces glabrous            and dull, fertile flowers; an average of 6, rotate in            arrangement, broadly ovate in shape, acute apex, broadly            cuneate base, entire margin, an average of 1.75 mm in length            and width, color when opening and fully open upper and lower            surface 147D, flushed with 59D, tip 146B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Sterile flowers; 3 pistils, an average of 1 mm in            length, stigma; club-shaped and 155D in color, style; 0.5 mm            in length, 155D in color, ovary is 155A in color, fertile            flowers; an average of 3 pistils, an average of 1 mm in            length, stigma; club-shaped and 155D in color, style; 0.5 mm            in length, 155D in color, ovary is 151D in color.        -   Androecium.—Sterile flowers; an average of 8 stamens,            filaments; an average of 2.5 mm in length and NN155B in            color, anthers; oblong in shape, an average of 1 mm in            length and 155A in color, pollen; moderate in quantity, 159D            in color, fertile flowers; an average of 10 stamens,            filaments; an average of 3 mm in length and NN155D in color,            anthers; oblong in shape, an average of 1 mm in length and            155A in color, pollen; moderate in quantity, 159D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No seeds or fruit observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Hortmamore’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.